National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

At the beginning of the meeting, the minister expressed gratitude for the fruitful cooperation of the organization with Uzbekistan and noted the importance of combining the efforts of the Central Asian region in combating land degradation, desertification, and water resources management.

The main agenda of the meeting was to discuss preparations for the launch of a joint project of the Adaptation Fund, IFAD, and the Ministry of Ecology aimed at reducing poverty in rural areas by improving climate services in agriculture, increasing sustainability, and increasing income and economic growth in rural communities.

For information: The five-year project will include the implementation of 3 components: the development of an agro-climatic monitoring system, the development of institutional and technical capabilities for long-term analysis of climate scenarios, and raising public awareness of the projected adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture and appropriate response measures.

In turn, K. Mendoza expressed readiness to support Uzbekistan in the fight against the consequences of the Aral Sea disaster and the problems of land degradation. He also noted the need to combine and structure initiatives and projects implemented by the governments of Central Asian countries with organizations, using the example of the IFAD project in Uzbekistan. 

A. Abdukhakimov supported the need to unite countries in the fight against land degradation and desertification through the development of desert technologies. The minister informed K. Mendoza about the opening of the Expo Hub of Climate Technologies initiated by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in the Aral Sea region, as well as about the holding of the Expo Exhibition of Climate and Desert Technologies next year. 

The minister also informed the foreign side about the launch of in vitro laboratories aimed at breeding seeds adapted to local conditions. Regarding the current interaction of Central Asian countries on climate change and desertification, the minister spoke about the establishment of the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University) in Tashkent. 

Following the talks, the parties agreed to continue active cooperation within the framework of a joint project and discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation and expand the project portfolio.